Rock 'n' Vote 2012 Top 10

CaptionThe 92s

Home base: Palos Park/Orland Park/ElginNeed to know: Originating as a solo project for singer-guitarist Dan Durley, the 92s now put full-band spins on the songs Durley--who, yes, was born in 1992--recorded on the excellent EP “Don’t Bury Me.” “They’re folk songs at the heart,” says Durley, 19, who aimed to combine grittier aspects of punk, shoegaze and noise rock with folk-pop. “There’s a juxtaposition between the pretty and the noisy.”Influences: Manchester Orchestra, Wilco, Say Anything, Mike Golden and FriendsLive show: A “weirder,” more distorted version of the band’s recorded material. “It’s much more full of character than you can capture on an album,” Durley says.Claim to fame: Maintaining a commitment to charitable organizations, including playing benefit shows for Amnesty International, to raise autism awareness and donating 25 percent of Bandcamp and iTunes sales to the Red Cross

Home base: Palos Park/Orland Park/ElginNeed to know: Originating as a solo project for singer-guitarist Dan Durley, the 92s now put full-band spins on the songs Durley--who, yes, was born in 1992--recorded on the excellent EP “Don’t Bury Me.” “They’re folk songs at the heart,” says Durley, 19, who aimed to combine grittier aspects of punk, shoegaze and noise rock with folk-pop. “There’s a juxtaposition between the pretty and the noisy.”Influences: Manchester Orchestra, Wilco, Say Anything, Mike Golden and FriendsLive show: A “weirder,” more distorted version of the band’s recorded material. “It’s much more full of character than you can capture on an album,” Durley says.Claim to fame: Maintaining a commitment to charitable organizations, including playing benefit shows for Amnesty International, to raise autism awareness and donating 25 percent of Bandcamp and iTunes sales to the Red Cross

Home base: Pilsen/Lakeview/Logan SquareNeed to know: Formed in Dayton, Ohio in 2007, Hospital Garden—which takes its name from a William Carlos Williams poem--came to Chicago in 2009 and made its biggest mark with last year’s blistering full-length “Haunter.” The sound? “Indie noise pop,” a term coined by a Dayton newpaper that singer/guitarist Lucas Hollow, 29, agrees with. “It’s pop-rock, but it tends to get a little louder and noisier than a lot of other bands.”Influences: Guided by Voices, Wavves, The RamonesLive show: Hollow’s description is as effectively straightforward as the band’s music: “Loud and energetic. We love playing.”Claim to fame: Opened for Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices at Dayton Music Festival; positive press for “Haunter” from Loud Loop Press, Razorcake

Home base: Pilsen/Lakeview/Logan SquareNeed to know: Formed in Dayton, Ohio in 2007, Hospital Garden—which takes its name from a William Carlos Williams poem--came to Chicago in 2009 and made its biggest mark with last year’s blistering full-length “Haunter.” The sound? “Indie noise pop,” a term coined by a Dayton newpaper that singer/guitarist Lucas Hollow, 29, agrees with. “It’s pop-rock, but it tends to get a little louder and noisier than a lot of other bands.”Influences: Guided by Voices, Wavves, The RamonesLive show: Hollow’s description is as effectively straightforward as the band’s music: “Loud and energetic. We love playing.”Claim to fame: Opened for Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices at Dayton Music Festival; positive press for “Haunter” from Loud Loop Press, Razorcake

This year we received a record 170 submissions to our 9th annual contest and chose these 10 bands to fight for your approval. Vote through midnight Sunday for who you want to see live; the top 4 vote-getters play our free show May 16 at Hard Rock Café, with on-site voting at the show determining the ultimate Rock 'n' Vote 2012 winner--who earns a spot performing July 15 at Taste of Chicago.Click here to listen to songs from each bandClick here to vote